Skate sharpener



Sept. 8, 1936.

w. D. c. WRIGHT SKATE S'H'ARBENER Filed Oct. 18, 1935l 3H Hah gwf y ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT -oEFIcE `SKTE SHARPENER v Wilson D. Craig Wright, Princeton, N. J. Application October i8, 193.5,Seria1 No. 45,525 Claims. (Cl. Shi-205) This` inventionrrelates to an improved device for sharpening the runners of ice skates; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel'A hand tool for the purposes stated which isY 5' adapted to produce an effective sharpened edge of concave conformation in cross section.

invention has for its principal object to provide a simple, inexpensive and yet highly eflicient Sharpener means capable of manipulation element is provided in combination with a holding frame and guiding means; said grinding means having a transversely and convexly curved periphery of suitable radius, whereby, upon applilwcation to and movement along the skate runner edge, the same will produce the desired sharpened concave conformation of the latter.A

This invention has for another object to pro-Z vide in the Sharpener device as above characterized, a means for immovably locking the grinding means tothe holding frame in various rotatably adjusted positions, so that as used pyn'tions of the periphery of the grinding means are worn down in-use, the grinding means may be adjusted 2 5 to bring successive unused portions of the same 7 intoV operative position for use, thus providing for progressive consumption of the grinding means, sothat the useful life of the same is prolonge dand elncient use of the same is assured without waste.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description .ofthe same.V l

Illustrative embodiments of thisinvention'vare shown in the accompanying drawing, in which jFig. l is a fragmentaryside elevation of a skate runner Showing one form of the novel Sharpener devicepperatively applied thereto; Fig. 2 isa drawings, the novel skate Sharpener device therein disclosed comprises grinding means consisting in a suitably shaped hub disc IU. This hub by-hand, and so arranged that a novel grinding discv may be formed of cast metal, stamped metal, molded material, or in fact any other material adapted to serve as a support for the grinding material to be carried thereby. suitably bound to and extending around the periphery of said hub disc ID is a body II of grinding material, preferably comprising a molded annulus of carborundum, emery or other'suitable abrasive. The grinding material body I I is provided with a free edge I2 of transversely convex or curvilinear shape, whereby in operation, as moved back and forth upon and along theedge of a skate runner R, it will form. therein the troughlike or transversely concave sharpened edge E which has been found most desirable for skate runners for the reason that such edge formation gives best assurance against side slip of the skates when in use. It will be obvious that there are many ways in which the grinding material body II may be afiixed to the periphery of the hub-disc I0. Illustrative of one method and means for so aixing the same, the hub disc periphery is shown to be provided with a countersunk channel or groove I3, preferably provided with undercut side walls I4, `whereby an anchoring bottom rib I5 of the grinding material body Il may be imbedded therein, thus effectively interlocking the latter tofsaid hub disc Ill. The hub disc I0 is provided lwith an annular row of perforations or openings I6 concentric toits center,the purpose of which `will presently appear.

The holding frame of the device, in one illustrative form thereof, comprises a pairof vertically arrangedside plates I'I and I8, between which` the grinding means is disposed. At its upper end, the side plate I'I is provided with an inwardly Vdirected or curved top end portion I9, provided along its margin with alternated upwardly inclined lugs 28 and downwardly inclined lugs 2l, which are relatively divergent so asto form, intermediate the same, a transverse marginal seat. lThe upper end of the side plate I8 is also provided withan inwardly directed or curved top end portion `22, the transverse free margin ofwhich forms a lip 23 to engage in the seat provided by said lugs `2Il---2I of side plate l1. The sideplates I'l-I8 are thus maintained in register and against relative displacement, as well as fulcrumed one upon the other. Preferably the lower free end portions of the respective side plates 'I1-I8 are provided with outwardly bowed portions 24 terminating in downwardly extending guide tongues 25, which extend downwardly beyond the lower peripheral portion of the grinding means when the latter is operatively mounted between said side plates. Said tongues are preferably of a springy or resilient character, whereby the same are self-accommodating to various thicknesses of skate runners. Inward'ly pressed from the body of side plate I1 is a tit or stu-d 26, and, likewise, inwardly pressed from the body of Vside plate I8 is a corresponding opposed tit or stud 21. vertically spaced below the tits or studs of the respective side plates I1 and I6, at

a distance corresponding to the diametrical spacing the annular row of perforations or holes I6 with which the hub disc IU is provided, are the respective openings 28 and 29, the former of whichV is internally screw threaded to be engageabley by the threaded shank 30 ofY a locking thumb screw 3|.

frame, the thumb-screw 3| being detached from the side plates, the lower ends of the same are, spread apart and the hub-disc |0 .is inserted.V L therebetween with the topmost perforation or h'ole ofthe annular row I6 thereof aligned relative to` the tits or-studs 26 and 21 of the respecf swung together respectively toward opposite sides of the hub disc Ill, said tits or studs will respectively enter'opposite ends of said topmost perforation or hole of Ythe annular row I6 thereof.,

grinding means immovably aillxed relative to the holding frame.

`In operating the device for sharpening a skate runner R, the latter is inserted between the guide tongues 25, `so that the latter embrace opposite sides thereof, whereupon by pressing the device toward the skate runner, the transversely convex 5i periphery of the grinding material body is'operatively engaged with the skate runner edge. While the device is thus engaged, Ait is moved briskly back'a'nd forth longitudinally over and along said skate runner edge, so that the abrasive effect of thefgrinding material is exerted upon the skate runner edge to'produce therein the trough-likel transversely concave sharpened edge desired. It will -be obvious that inasmuch as the hub disc is p lheld at diametrically'opposed points by the tits or studs and thumb-screw, the same is securelyl Y -interlocked to the holding frame against rotation, and consequent displacement of the peripheral section of the grinding material body Il: thereby ypositioned for use. The device, in suchV 'V condition, may berepeatedly used for sharpening and thereupon rotating the grinding devicebne` operations until the effective peripheral sectionV of the grinding material body becomes so 'worn steplpreparatory to reassembling the same in affixed relation to the holding frame, thereby positioning `one unused peripheral section of the. grinding material body for use.

K These operations Amay be successively repeated until all`pef ripheral 'sections of the' grinding material body have been utilized; whereupon the peripheral h tive side plates |1-|8, so that when the latter areV edge of said grinding material body may be dressed to restore the requisite transverse convex contour thereof; or, if this is no longer possible,

then the grinding means may be replaced, or the whole device discarded in favor of a new one.

From the above description it will be apparent that this invention provides a very simple and yet Vhighly eiiicient hand grinding tool for the intended purposes; as well as one capable of a long period of usefulness until the entire effective portions of the grinding material are consume-d. It

Y will also be apparent that the tool is exceedingly well adapted to provide a comparatively deep transversely concave sharpened skate runner,

with definitely true and distinct sharp margins Vbordering the respective side faces of the skate To mount the grinding means in the holding runner.

'Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is disclosed thereby, a modified and somewhat simpliied form of grinding or sharpening device which none-theless embodies the essential principles of this inventionyand which operates to produce the same sharpening effects above mentioned. In this arrangement, the grinding means is substantially the same in form and make up as above described, except that thehub disc lll is provided with a central hole or opening32 to which the annular row of perforations or holes I6 is concentric. The holding frame is modified to comprise a pair of separate side plates 33-34 to engage opposite sides ofthe hub disc I0, These plates each have inwardly projecting studs 35 to selectively engage the perforations or holes l of the hub disc, and are'further respectively provided with holes or openings 36 'and 31 to match the central hole` or opening 32 of said hubj disc. One of said holes or openings, as 36 of side plate 33, is internally threaded so as to be engageable by the threaded shank 30 of the thumb-screw 3|. At their lower end portions, the side platesv 33-34 are provided with' the downwardly projecting guide tongues 38 to engag'e'opposite sides of the skate runner R, when the device is operatively applied to the latter. It will be noted that in this modified arrangement the thumb-screw 3| is so located as to provide an axis of rotation for the grinding means,- whensufciently loosened to separate the sidefplates far enough to disengage the studs 35' from the hub disc, and consequently rotative ad-v justment of the grinding means and relooking of the samel relative to the holdingframe is possible without necessity for entire disassembly of the side plates.

I am aware that many changes could be made inthe above described constructions, and that apparently widely different embodiments of this 'inf vention' vcould be made without departing vfrom the Yscope thereof; it is consequently intended that' dling the'sides of said hub disc and its grinding material body, said holding frame having guide tongues projecting beyond the loweriperipheral section of said grinding material body and adapted tostraddle a skate runner to which the sharpener; is` operatively applied, said'nub disc having 751 an annular row of openings, opposite sides of said trative and not in a, limiting soA holding frame having lugs to engage respectively in opposite ends of a selected hub disc opening, and a thumb-screw carried by said holding frame to engage through another of said hub disc openings for the purposes described.

2. In a skate Sharpener, a circular hub disc, a body of grinding material affixed to and extending around the margin of said hub disc, said grinding material body having a free peripheral portion of convex cross-sectional shape, said hub disc having a plurality of clrcularly spaced transverse openings therethrough, side plates respectively disposed across opposite sides of said hub disc and grinding material body, each plate terminating in a guide tongue extending beyond 'the periphery of said grinding material body, said guide tongues being adapted to straddle a skate runner to which vthe Sharpener is operatively applied, and means carried by at least one of said side plates selectively engageable with said hub disc openings for locking said hub disc in rotatively adjusted positions to bring selected peripheral portions of the grinding material body between said guide tongues and thus disposed for use.

3. In a skate Sharpener, a hub disc, a body of grinding material affixed to and extending around the margin of said hub disc, said grinding material body having a free peripheral portion of convex cross-sectional shape, said hub disc having a plurality of transverse openings therethrough, side plates respectively disposed across opposite sides of said hub disc and grinding material body, each plate terminating in a guide tongue extending beyond the periphery of said grinding material body, said guide tongues being adapted to straddle a skate runner to which the Sharpener is operatively applied, said hub disc having an annular row of openings concentric to its center, said side plates having inward projections to respectively engage opposite ends of a selected hub disc opening, and manipulatable means for securing said side plates and hub disc in assembled interlocked relation.

4. In a skate Sharpener, a hub disc, a body of grinding material aixed to and extending around the margin of said hub disc, said grinding material body having a free peripheral portion of convex cross-sectional shape, said hub disc having a plurality of transverse openings therethrough, side plates respectively disposed across opposite sides of said hub disc and grinding material body, each plate terminating in a guide tongue extending beyond the periphery of said grinding material body, said guide tongues being adapted to straddle a skate runner to which the Sharpener is operatively applied, said hub disc having an annular row of openings concentric to its center, said side plates having inward projections to respectively engage opposite ends of a selected hub disc opening, and a thumb-screw engaged through said side plates and through another of said hub disc openings for the purposes described.

5. A skate Sharpener, comprising a circular grinding element having a peripheral portion of convex cross-sectional shape and also having an annular row of openings extending transversely therethrough, a holding frame straddling the sides of said grinding element, said holding frame having guide tongues projecting beyond the lower periphery of said grinding element and adapted to straddle a skate runner to which the Sharpener is operatively applied, at least one side of said holding frame having a lug to engage in a selected opening of said row of openings provided in said grinding element, and manipulatable means for securing said holding frame and grinding element in assembled interlocked relation.

WILSON D. CRAIG WRIGHT. 

